The Sensory Box

I found this idea online, but I remember having something like this at one of the preschools I attended and I loved it.  I bought 2 plastic storage bins and filled them with dry rice.  Then I added toys...spoons, shovels, scoops, trucks, funnels, etc.  Holy Moly, this was awesome!  Both kids played for a long time with their own box of rice!  So simple, yet so entertaining! (Disclaimer: it is really messy though.  You will definitely need a broom or vacuum on hand.)

To change things up a bit, I changed the rice for small pebbles for RJ and glass stones, clear, turquoise, and green, for Grace.  RJ uses trucks, bull dozers, and small Duplo toys to make a construction set sensory box.  I put mermaids, faux seaweed for fish tanks, a beaded starfish, a fish Zooble, Barbie dolphins and whales, and other sea creatures in Grace's box to make an "under the sea" sensory box.  They like the new change.

All the toys I put in the boxes were things we had around the house.  If you google sensory boxes you will get all kinds of ideas for themes and things to use.  It was kind of fun for me too, because I had to use my imagination to put them together!

I will be changing it up again soon to keep things interesting and fun for them!

Beating the summer heat!

Get in YOUR Bed!!

RJ has a new toddler bed!  We gave the crib to Aunt Rae Rae and Uncle Marc to use for baby Sunny.  The toddler bed is adorable and RJ does like it, but...

he has decided that it's fun to get out of his bed, lay on the floor next to his door, and peek out under the door and down the hall.  I've caught him playing with our new kitten, Sully, under the door.  Sully's paw is in RJ's room and RJ's fingers are in the hallway.  

Several nights in a row RJ has fallen asleep in this fashion.  One of the nights he was so close to the door that I had to push the door hard in order to move his body out of the way so I could go in and put him back in his bed.  

Daddy's Monster Truck

Bryan brought RJ this monster truck at his last visit.  Needless to say, RJ loves it!!

No markers for you!

RJ is no longer allowed to use markers in an unsupervised fashion.  That boy will color all over EVERYTHING!!  Thank goodness they are washable.  :)

Mmmmmm donuts!!

G and I had a Mommy-Daughter Donut Date!  We need to do more things like this!!

Magic Kingdom

The kids and I joined some friends of ours at the Magic Kingdom back in June.  It started drizzling as soon as we got out of the car.  We spent a good 4 hours there and it rained the entire time.  As miserable as it sounds, it wasn't. The light rain actually kept the crowds at bay and us cool.  

After lunch, however, the weather took a turn for the worse and it started pouring.  I ended up taking RJ home for his nap, while my friends kept Grace with them.  The walk back to the car was the worst.  Walking in a downpour, pushing a stroller, while holding a kid.  Yes, I was holding RJ.  He wasn't having anything to do with the stroller.  He was tired, cold, and drenched.  I didn't blame him, but I was still the one having to carry his 25 pounds for about two miles!!  Good grief!  

All in all, the day was fantastic, the kids were troopers, and I would do it again tomorrow if I could!

This picture melts my heart.  RJ had his hand on my knee the entire time we road It's a Small World.  I wanted to remember this moment forever!!

I had to remember this picture too.  Grace pointed out that this sign instructs us that there is NO DANCING on the It's a Small World ride.  God, I love that kid!!

Sharing a snack, while taking a break from the rain, on the train.

RJ

This boy has changed so much in the last 4 months.  He's grown taller and he hasn't stopped talking.  RJ is a funny little guy!  He makes us laugh with his facial expressions, eyes, and dance moves.  

RJ's favorite things are trucks.  Cement mixers, tow trucks, delivery trucks, bull dozers, diggers, tankers, tractor trailers, it doesn't matter...he loves them!  He has one in his hand pretty much all the time; even when sleeping.  

He also likes his little train set.  I got a pretty good deal on a wooden set with several accessories for his birthday.  After he's done playing with his trucks he usually asks me to put the train set together.  

I never imagined I would have little tiny trucks, cars, and trains all over my house.  I love it!

RJ loves his sister.  He likes to copy everything she does or says.  Most often she can tell him what to do and how to do it, then he does it.  As the saying goes, imitation is the biggest form of flattery.  

RJ is also a Momma's Boy!  He asks for me to hold him and he wants to snuggle with me a lot.  My hope is that he and I will always have a close relationship.  He's a cool kid.  He's very smart, extremely sweet, and he's going to be a great brother to his big sister.  

I couldn't be more proud of this beautiful person!

Grace

It's been a while since I've posted an update on either child.  So here we go...

Grace is now 4 1/2 years old.  She has become such a big girl, in what seems almost overnight.  


Her intelligence continues to amaze me.  Puzzles are a new favorite.  Grace will put together four or five puzzles at one sitting, some even have as many as 50 pieces, all by herself!

Coloring is her passion!  She takes after her Mom.  I still enjoy coloring.  It's therapeutic.  It's fun to sit down at her little table and color with her.  Sometimes we talk.  Sometimes we just quietly enjoy each other's company.

Grace still has a compassionate heart.  She is a gentle soul.  She's sweet to everyone, animals, her toys, and especially her brother.  She will do great things in her lifetime because of this trait.

I couldn't be more proud of this beautiful little person!!